Sole survivor of the Martian people, J'onn J'onzz was teleported to Earth decades ago by Dr. Saul Erdel. Since then, he has adopted Earth as his new home, playing many roles over his time with humanity: detective, secret agent, explorer, and even a founding member of the Justice League.
" I wouldn't usually bring it up but um, this thread along with your "white superheroes vs black superheroes" battle thread has me wondering. Do you have a race issue or something dude? "
" I wouldn't usually bring it up but um, this thread along with your "white superheroes vs black superheroes" battle thread has me wondering. Do you have a race issue or something dude? "
Actually, I think he ( krisboyz781) raises an interesting point, if somewhat simply put. Manhunter's shapeshifting abilities and alien culture leave him widely open to interpretation. I've always thought his more barbaric garments were suggestive of a tribal heritage, and his initial beetle browed depiction could be construed as African (in fact, his fictional fore bearers, Burrough's Green Martians from the John Carter stories, are often considered to be analogues to Native Americans) but on the other hand his personality was very Joe Friday with superpowers, and his martian form quickly developed more "Caucasian" features. In later years some writers have treated him as a "token" character since he's the only non-white original JLAer, but just as many write him as totally Alien (which is really my preferred take) Also, while little was made of it outside of the Ostrander run (I think Grant Morrison actually originated the idea in JLA) MM is supposedly the southern hemisphere's Superman. I think they're talking more South America, but taken literally, that would include Africa as well. Pioneering African-American creator Christopher Priest had a great run writing Martian Manhunter in Justice League Task Force, and while he was a little meaner than usual, I didn't see J'onn as any "blacker" than usual...
The more I think about it, Martian Manhunter, even more so that Superman, is whatever you want him to be. I think he's highly relatable. But that's just me.
@mathematicscore: J'onn J'onnz is the ink blot of the DC universe, isn't it? You see what you want to see in him.
I don't mind when he takes various humans forms: Asian woman, little girl, African-American, whatever, but I still like to see him come "home" to John Jones, since I think his detective roots aren't played up enough. He was a detective first and superhero second....in some ways, he's an amalgam of Batman and Superman. How cool could that potential be, if the right approach was taken to his character?
The only form I couldn't handle was when he was a cat. Did he really need to see life on Earth from a cat's point-of-view? It's all just balls of yarn and playing with empty boxes, J'onn. That's pretty much it.
Most modern depictions of his John Jones/human disguise are based off of Phil Morris, his actor on Smallville, so technically he's black. His Young Justice voice actor is Kevin Michael Richardson who is also black.
) raises an interesting point, if somewhat simply put. Manhunter's shapeshifting abilities and alien culture leave him widely open to interpretation. I've always thought his more barbaric garments were suggestive of a tribal heritage, and his initial beetle browed depiction could be construed as African (in fact, his fictional fore bearers, Burrough's Green Martians from the John Carter stories, are often considered to be analogues to Native Americans) but on the other hand his personality was very Joe Friday with superpowers, and his martian form quickly developed more "Caucasian" features. In later years some writers have treated him as a "token" character since he's the only non-white original JLAer, but just as many write him as totally Alien (which is really my preferred take) Also, while little was made of it outside of the Ostrander run (I think Grant Morrison actually originated the idea in JLA) MM is supposedly the southern hemisphere's Superman. I think they're talking more South America, but taken literally, that would include Africa as well. Pioneering African-American creator Christopher Priest had a great run writing Martian Manhunter in Justice League Task Force, and while he was a little meaner than usual, I didn't see J'onn as any "blacker" than usual...
The more I think about it, Martian Manhunter, even more so that Superman, is whatever you want him to be. I think he's highly relatable. But that's just me.
Every human being on Earth has tribal heritage that's not a black specific thing.
In the United States of America, anyone who isn't white is black- it's a different mentality than exists anywhere else on the earth. It calls into question socio-economic class moreso than ethnicity, but it is an ever present filter through which people see one another there. So I postulate that in the USA he is in fact Black, though to extrapolate into questioning just how 'high yellow' he may be, I defer to those peers that judge him and his place in their world, just as it is done in our real world.
@joshmightbe: perhaps a bit of research into the topic would help you to understand my point. It's a clinical statement, not an emotional statement. Reality is tragically not what we hope it to be or wish it to one day achieve, reality is bitter and cruel to many. Sorry if I burst your bubble, things are getting better with regard to the issue I spoke of, but it's definitively not an 'Umm no' (to my point) kind of place.
@mynamewasdeleted: I live in America and trust me people know there is a difference between black people, Asians, Native Americans, etc.,etc. This whole thing about black people and white people acting like they're the only races that exist or matter is starting to piss me off quite frankly.
@joshmightbe: you might do well to excuse yourself from this thread as you find yourself in an emotional state, because the whole point of it is a discussion about perception. I'm not trying to upset anyone, but in the United States of America (which, by the way, is only a small portion of the land mass of the Americas- do you see what you did there by claiming it all? Small point I know, but it speaks to a mindset that is inherent in the USA, and the basis of my original statement- so thank you for making my point all the more relevant) you are white, or you are... striving to achieve what is available to whites more readily. No matter what race, you find yourself looked on as not the ideal, not white. Basically, black. This transcends race, it reaches into class, gender, sexuality and on and on. If it disturbs you though, that is a good thing. I speaks volumes of your character, and gives me hope you might make a difference. Thank you.
@mynamewasdeleted: I'm only about a quarter white and no I did not prove your point. And trust me my ancestors know all about trying to claim s**t that doesn't belong to them but despite their best efforts my people are still here and will not just be placed in some vague non white lump just because some people don't have time to look beyond 2 groups of people.
@joshmightbe: you did not prove my point, you brought relevance to my point- please read more carefully. This is not about hurting your feelings, but you are leading this discussion rather far afield. Could we please get back on topic- Martian Manhunter.
I would like to propose that MM dons the appearance of a white man, because it is his disguise, something he is furthest from- and thus something he IS NOT.
Most modern depictions of his John Jones/human disguise are based off of Phil Morris, his actor on Smallville, so technically he's black. His Young Justice voice actor is Kevin Michael Richardson who is also black.
The Irony is this guy always play the non-black black guy...he is like one of the most westernized African Americans males on TV, comedy or not, and I love him for that - great actor. At worst he deliberately takes on characteristics, comically attributed to a non-caucasian character trying to play "a character assimilated into western society", and at best, he doesn't normally play characters that have any traits that fall into black stereotypes. (How is that for tactically avoiding derogatory terms .... /pats back )
So if MMH's human identities are based off of him, I would definitely say he is not "black" in any sense of the term other skin when in disguise.
In all honestly, Phil Morris mainly acts normal (mainly does not play roles that depict African American stereotypes) and people create their own stereotypes on him for not doing so.
Example Silly stuff like another actor did:
Glasses, sweaters, polo-shirts, khakis (in this case short pants and suspenders), and no slang => Caucasian ... WTF,
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